Ontario

EXCERPTS

You spent the month of February learning about Black history in Canada and wondering how do I address anti-black racism? In this Black History Month follow-up conversation, Natalie Royer, Belonging Specialist at Saroy Group, will share her story as a Black ECE navigating the sector and facilitate a dialogical space for us to "look deep within [ourselves] and ask the hard questions: Why do I choose to do nothing? What am I afraid of? Why do I think it is not my place act?" (Royer, 2021, para 9).

This conversation is a space for critical thinkers to explore ways to address anti-black racism in early childhood education. The session will consist of facilitated small group discussions offering various opportunities for participants to recognize and respond to the work that needs to happen.

To prepare for this conversation, you are invited to read and engage with the Re-imagining Early Childhood Care and Education in a Post-George Floyd World: An Open Letter and to think with the following questions:

• What you believe the barriers are now?
• How do we overcome these barriers as a sector and in our own practice?

You can share your ideas, questions and/or possibilities about how we can address anti-black racism in early childhood education in this Padlet.

We highly encourage you to attend this Black History Month follow-up conversation. This is an extraordinary opportunity to generate ideas, questions and possibilities together about how we can address anti-black racism in early childhood education. We're sure that your ideas will make the facilitated small group conversations, a rich and meaningful experience.

Natalie Royer is a belonging consultant, strategist and coach at Saroy Group Inc. She provides training sessions primarily in the education sector and consults with companies and organizations on how to promote a space of belonging using an equity, diversity and inclusion lens. She has worked in the healthcare sector (i.e. Hospital For Sick Children) and she has taught at colleges and universities for over 10 years. With a background in early childhood education, she advocates for the next generations and hopes as leaders we can create an inclusive space where everyone can thrive.

This conversation will not be recorded to ensure a safe/brave space for all participants.

Access Information: The AECEO is committed to ensuring that our learning experiences are accessible to all educators; including educators with disabilities, whether visible or invisible. We believe that taking care to create a learning experience where no person's voice, spirit, or knowledges are lost because they are unable to attend, benefits everyone. ASL-English Interpretation and live captioning will be available at this session. Please contact info@aeceo.ca for access inquiries. 

The Métis Nation of Ontario’s (MNO) 3rd Annual Early Learning and Child Care Professional Learning Conference will be held online via Zoom on April 5, 2022 from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Eastern and April 6, 2022 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern.

The conference is an opportunity for participants with a background in Early Learning and Child Care (ELCC) to enhance their knowledge of Métis history, culture and way-of-life and learn how to better support Métis children in classrooms and community.

To attend the conference, participants must have a background in Early Learning and Child Care and must reside in Ontario.

Our keynote presenters – celebrated Métis artist and writer Leah Marie Dorion and Dr. Jody Carrington, a renowned psychologist — will reflect on strength, resilience, connection and their importance to Métis children, family, peers and communities.

Conference participants will learn how to access relevant resources, and integrate Métis culture into ELCC pedagogy and daily practices.

Registration is open from February 14- 28, 2022.

Please note, there is limited space available. Therefore, registration is on a first-come-first-serve basis and will be closed once the maximum participant capacity has been met. Those who express interest but were unable to submit an application will be added to a waitlist for consideration.